Gluttony and Bad Traffic: My Ramadan

Thank you, Al-Hajeri/Al-Saraie Family!

Thank you, Kim! 

Happy birthday, girl!

Thank you, Al-Roomi family!

Thank you, Mom & Dad Al-Enezi!

I'm not fasting.  I have no shame about that.  What I do in Ramadan isn't to pretend - I just eat when invited.  And lately I've been invited - a lot.  I don't, however, think it is appropriate for my hosts (adopted Mom & Dad)  to tell me that I've gained weight and then insist that I eat heaping plate loads of food.  It isn't fair.  Tell me that I'm "too skinny and should eat more."  That will do it.

I'm loving the food.

What I'm not loving is the traffic.  Holy sh...  This year it is the worst EVER.  I've been in a lot of near misses this Ramadan and then the people who are at fault start honking.  Kuwaitis never used to use their horns before; it would have caused a fight. Not anymore.  We are a suburb of Egypt and the honking is ON.

Taken by ME, at 12:32 am in downtown Kuwait. 

So anyhoo, that is my Ramadan summary in a nutshell:  lots of food and bad traffic.  It was 107 today.  I was in traffic.  I had to eat to make myself feel better.  Yeah... that's the excuse....

Hope you all are having a happy Ramadan! :)

UAE announces visa reforms to lure investors, boost economy

 Arab Times

5/22/18

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to allow 100 percent ownership and visa incentives to foreigners, in a bid to attract investors to boost its slowing national economy. The decision, taken by the UAE cabinet Sunday night, aims to lure “international investments and exceptional talent”, according to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum. 

(Continued...)

Meanwhile, in Kuwait...

Al-Hashem Speaks on Behalf of Expats (AGAIN)

Talking out her (___) again....

Arab Times today:

“What experiences are we talking about? They (the expatriates) simply do not care about Kuwait’s development. Their main concern is getting high salaries, live a prosperous life in a country that has never asked them to pay any fees for all the services it offers them free of charge.” Al-Hashem stressed, “The expatriates have never worked even for one day to train the Kuwaitis and make room for them. I hope the decision will be implemented. I will be very keen that this agreement includes all foreign consultants working in the state institutions and occupies important posts in the country.”

B, please!  Are you speaking as an Expat?  Are you speaking as someone who fought for Kuwait during 90/91?  Are you speaking as someone who had friends that DID and left their friends, family, jobs, livelihood to help Kuwait?  Are you speaking for those of us who mentored young Kuwaitis in the local market?  Are you speaking for those of us who actually TOOK A PAY CUT TO MOVE TO KUWAIT and face uncertainties?  

HER main concern is getting a higher salary and living off the xenophobic fears of others.